Coatesville Area High graduates 527, including record number of AP students
By Kyle Carrozza, Staff Writer, The Times
CALN — Laugh about the past, and dare to go boldly into the future.
These seemed to be the recurring messages at Coatesville Area Senior High’s graduation on Thursday night. Held in the 9/10 Center gym, 527 students became Coatesville’s 135th graduating class.
The evening started out on a somber note, with a moment of silence for Mr. Anthony Mallozzi, the South Brandywine Middle School principal and former CASH teacher who died of a heart attack earlier this week.
After senior September Smith’s rendition of the National Anthem, Coatesville Area School District Superintendent Richard Como spoke to the graduating class, reflecting on their time in high school, telling jokes, and giving them advice for the future.
“All of you have that same sense of Coatesville pride in your hearts,” he told the graduates. “The person you became here will last a lifetime.”
Valedictorian Cindy Ling addresses her peers. “I urge you to look to the future with an honest, creative, and critical look at yourselves,” she told her classmates.
Como told them that only their actions will determine the types of people they will become.
“We will not be remembered by our words but by our kind deeds,” he said.
Valedictorian Cindy Ling spoke next. She urged her classmates to take risks, not just settle for most convenient options offered to them. Her message was timeless but uniquely updated for the young generation.
“Take chances, be uncompromising, and don’t be afraid to put yourself out there,” Ling instructed. “Constantly challenge yourself. In other words, you only live once.”
Ling gave an emotional thank you to her parents. She also thanked the teachers, listing the ones who impacted her the most. She recounted the qualities of each teacher that made them unique forces in her life, garnering cheers and laughter from her peers.
Honor Soloist Jocelyn Brown performed “Because You Love Me”, hitting notes that resonated throughout the gym, causing parents to cheer so loudly that for a moment, they drowned out the music. The chorus seniors followed her with a rendition of “May the Road Rise to Meet You”.
Commencement Speaker Aqueous Hoggard reminisces about her high school experience. “Win or lose, the Class of 2013 worked hard!” she exclaimed.
After recognition of the many students who received scholarships and academic awards, student-elected Commencement Speaker Aqueous Hoggard had the gym laughing with her boundless energy and spot-on impressions of CASH Principal Robert J. Fisher’s intercom announcements.
“I know everybody wants a shoutout, so this is your shoutout: I love you all,” she told her classmates.
Hoggard reflected on the past years, recounting the academic and athletic successes of the graduates. She talked about the teachers, “who gave us the best public school education you could have,” and remembered half-price appetizers at Applebee’s after football games.
“We made our mark on our school and community,” she proclaimed.
Hoggard, too, insisted that her classmates aim high and take risks. Leading by example, she gave a lighthearted delivery of “Don’t Stop Believin’” and led everyone in the chorus of Drake’s oddly poignant “Started from the Bottom”.
Finally, Fisher wished the best for the class, telling them that graduation is a time to both reflect and begin anew.
“Wherever you go, go with your heart,” he advised.
Fisher even recited his signature intercom line, “Class of 2013, may I have your attention please?” This was probably the only time the students were happy to hear it.
Students filed out of the gym as Jocelyn Brown sang the alma mater. Summer rain poured outside, and the graduates did not hesitate to rush out and embrace their friends and families, as well as their futures.
